Machine for counting pills and the like



Mar. 20, 1923. l 1,448,826

1 J. H. BRUCHEY MACHINE FOR COUNTING PILLS AND THE LIKE F1led,Dec.,6, 1921l 2 sheets-sheet 1 www/hoz Mar. 20, 1923.

J. H. BRUCHEY MACHINE FOR COUNTING' PILLS AND THE LIKE Filed. Dec. 6, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 o l @00 sa f 000%) Patented lli/lar., 29, i923.

JOHN H. BRUCHEY,

OF BALTIMORE,

anatre MARYLAND.

MACHN-L "EOE COUNTING PLLS AND THE LIKE.

lapplication filed December G, 1921.

To all 1li/720m. t muy concer/t Be it known that l, Jorrit lil. Broc/HEY, a citizen of the United `htates, residing at city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in lvlachines for Counting Pills and the like, of which the following aspecification.

This invention rel ates to machines for counting and packaging pills or the like and operative either' by hand or automatic power.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sin'ipliiied mechanism for aceurately separating pills and other similar devices into groups of a certain number in each group by an automatic operation of the mechanism, and to deliver the pills either by a single group of a regular number.y or a plurality of groups, in accordance with the number of pills or devices to be packaged, and thereby facilitate the enclosure of pills or other devices of a predetermined number and overcome the disadvantages incident 'to manual counting and enclosure thereof. A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism that will operate with certainty and in an automatic manner to dispose a predetermined number of pills or other de vices in groups which are successively moved to a point of discharge and at which point either an individual group or a number of groups of pills or other devices may be liberated from the mechanism and deposited in an enclosure or package.

rllhe invention further consists in the conn struction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed in preferred form.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. transverse sectional view of machine embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved machine;

Fig. 3 is a 'top plan view of a portion of the machine, showing the movable feed plate removed;

Fig. el is a detail section of a portion of the machine, showing the feed plate in place and illustrating the manner of delivering pills or other devices from the feed plate to a discharge means or hopper.

rllhe numeral 5 designates a pedestal of suitable dimensions and contour and formed with a central vertical bore 6 in which yis adjustably fixed a shaft i having associated with the upper extremity thereof the nicch- Seral No. 520,432.

anism for counting and packaging pills or other devices. The counting and packaging mechanism comprises a fixed disk or plate 8, a rotatable plate or disk 9, and a fixed partition hopper or feeding receptacle 10 divided by fixed partitions 11, the said partitions 11 being radially arranged to form segmental chambers or divisions 12. The fixed plate or disk 8 may be suitably braced and has a central hub 13 fitted on a bushing or sleeve 14 and is secured to the shaft 7 with the bushing by a transverve pin 15. The plate or disk 9, which serves as a rotary counting means, has its edge or periphery formed with ratchet teeth i16 of predetermined proportions or dimensions in accordance with the motion or interval throw or rotation of 'the plate or disk 9 proportionate to groups of openings 17, also radially arranged in the several chambers or divisions 12. The openings 17 are formed in groups of four .in each chamber or division 12, or each ratchet tooth shift imparted in a ro tary direction to the counting plate or disk 9 will always dispose four of the groups of openings 17' in each chamber or division 12. rllhe four groups of openings of each division are individually separated by imperforate portions of the plate, and each group also has the same number of openings comprised therein, the openings of each group being in radial lines. The groups of openings 17 are formed in the manner shown particularly by Fig. 2. each alternate group of the openings projecting outwardly a greater distance radially than the adjacent alternate groups of said openings, so that a greater feeding capacity within the area of each chamber or division, and in fact over the `whole area of the rotary counting disk or plate 9, may be obtained. The formation of the groups of openings 17 as iust eX- plained is rendered possible by disposing the inner terminal of one group close to the inner periphery or central portion of the rotary counting disk or plate 9, and then starting the inner terminal of the next group outwardly a certain distance from the ycentral portion of the inner periphery of the said disk or plate, and whereby the disk or plate 9 is given a greater capacity in the performance of its counting function through the medium of the groups of openings. In the present instance the number of openings 1'? in each group is'thirty-six, and as a consequence, each chamber or dillO vision 12 will always have exposed therein one hundred and fortysfour openings for the reception of pills or other devices that may be placed in the several chambers or compartments. f The partitions 11 extend from the outer circular wall 18 of the supply hopper or receptacle inwardly to a central sleeve or drum 19, the latter being secured to a set collar 20 which is in turn fixed to the upper end of the shaft 7 by a set screw 21. On the shaft 7 in spaced relation to the set collar 2O is a space collar 22 held fixed to the shaft 7 by a set screw 23, this space. collar 22 being` near the lower end of the sleeve or drum 19 but unattached with relation to the latter. The space collar 22 also serves the function of a lower brace means for the sleeve or drum 19 and the .inner periphery or central. portion of the rotary counting` plate or disk 9 has an upstanding annular flange 24- which fits within the lower end ofthe sleeve or drum 19, the central opening` 25 of the plate or disk 9 freely rotating on the upper extremity ef the bushing 14. By this means the plate or disk 9 is held in rotatable association with the central elements of the machine and bears closely on the upper surface of the fixed plate or disk 3` so that pills or other devices supplied to the 4opening 17 will not be impaired or injured as they are carried around by the rotation of the counting plate or disk 9 towards the point of discharge. Each partition 11 extends fully throughout the vertical extent of the outer circular wall 18, but with the wall terminates at its lower edge a short distance above the upper surface of the rotary counting plate or disk 9, to form a clearance space 26, this space 26 being'- of such limited vertical extent as to vavoid any tendency of the contents of the several chambers or divisions 12 from crowding under the lower edges ofithe partitions or in any manner becoming injured or broken by the rotative operation of the plate or disk 9. Each partition 11 also has a brush body 27 secured to one side thereof and provided with a plurality of depending bristles 23 which have their lower tern'iinals at all times in Contact with the upper surface of the rotary counting plate or disk 9. The function of these brushes .is to sweep the pills or other devices in the chamber or divisions 12 into the openings 17 of the counting groups, and thereby insure that all of the openings will be filled and render the counting` operation positive and certain.y

The ratchet teeth 16 are continued regularly around the outer periphery of the rotary counting plate or disk 9, the teeth moving through angularly bent guides 29 secured to the outer circular wall 18 of the supply hopper or receptacle 10 and depend ing over and secured to the periphery of the fixed plate or disk 8. An outwardly projecting angular stop 30 is also secured to the periphery of the fixed plate or disk 3 at a. convenient point, and by this stop and the next angularly bent guide 29 a limited range of movement for a reciprocating pawl 31 is provided, said pawl being carried by an arm 32 having an eye or hub bearing at the inner end thereof rotatably applied to the lower portion of the bushing 14 and held in operative position by a set collar 34 having thereon a set screw 35 bearing against the bushing. The outer portion of the arm 32 is elevated so as to bring the upper surface thereof on a level with the upper surface of the fixed plate or disk S, the arm terminating in an outer handle or grip 36, and also has fixed thereto a spring 37 bearing on the outer side of the free extremity of the pawl 31, to insure engagement of the pawl at all times with the ratchet teeth 16. rll`he position of the stop 30 is such that the rearward or retractive movement of the arm 32 is limited, and this stop acting relatively to the angular guide 29 immediately in advance thereof will serve to regulate each stroke of the arm 32 and the action of the pawl 31 proportionately to the disposition of the groups of counting openings 17 and to effect a disposition of these counting openings in regular sequence in fours in each chamber or division 12, and also to bring the groups of openings in successive discharging positions either singly or in plurality, as may be permitted by the adjustment of a discharge control means which will be hereinafter more fully explained. instead of operating the arm 32 by hand. it is obvious that the same could have suitable power mechanism applied thereto and arranged to actuate the said arm alternately forwardly and rearwardly in accordance with the required and effective operation of the counting plate or disk 9.

At a point in the machine opposite the location of the operating lever 32 a discharge opening or slot 3ba is formed in the fixed plate or disk 8 and in the present instance is large enough to permit three groups of the openings 17 to simultaneously discharge their contents therethrough, or to provide fora simultaneous maximum discharge of one hundred and forty-four pills or other devices. This discharge opening or slot 36a is regulated as to its discharge dimensions by a horizontally disposed slide valve or regulator 37 a freely movable in opposite guide grooves 33 and 39 in the outer and inner walls of the slot or opening, the said controlling slide or regulator 37 having a depending finger-piece 40 for shifting the same and extending below and clear of the fixed plate or disk 8. As shown by Fig. 3, the controlling slide or regulator 37'L may be opened to permit discharge of the pills or other devices in one group of the vices desired to be enclosed Within each package. The slide or regulator 37 is ymanually adjustable and is rictionally retained in its adjustment. Beneath the discharge opening or slot 361 an outlet hopper 41 is secured and has an upper lateral extension 42, to

provide for discharge thereinto through the opening' orslot 36"l either throughout the full or only partial extent ot' the said opening or slot. The lower end 43 of the discharge hopper is so shaped that a package or receptacle may be held thereagainst and retained in position, orbe fitted thereover as may be desired.

In preparing the machine for operation, the several chambers or divisions l2 are iilled with pills or other devices and a package or enclosure is applied to the lower outlet end or extremity of the hopper 41.. rThe rotary feeding plate or disk 9 is then actuated through the ratchet and pawl mechanism heretofore explained, to bring the groups ont openings engaged by the pills or other devices successively over the discharge or outletopening 36', and in accordance with the adjustment of the controlling slide or regulator 37, the pills or other devices will be liberated into the hopper 41 and thence pass into the package or enclosure therefor. As the rotary plate or disk 9 moves around, complete tlling of all the' openings 17 of each group will ensue, in view or' the'tact that the several openings pass through the chambers or divisions 12 containing the pills or other devices, and as the filled groups of openings pass under the partitions 11, the brushes come into play and prevent crowding ot' the contents olf the openings and also 'jamming of the pills or other devices against the lower portions of the partitions. The controlling slide o r regulator 37a is disposed at such distance below the lower surface ot the rotary plate or disk 9 as to permit the pills or other devices in the Openings 17 oft the successive groups to engage the ysaid slide, as shown by Fig. 4, without injury to the pills, this engagement of the pills with the slide occurring when the latter' is only partially open, or when it is proposed to have either one or two groups of the openings clear for simultaneous discharge oi the contents therefrom into the hopper 41.

The numberiof openings in each feeding group of openings and the number of groups ot' openings that may have their contents simultaneously delivered or discharged through the opening or slot 36 will depend the contents `onthe proportions of the several parts,` as wellas the adjustment ot the slide or regulator 3T and in accordance `with the number of' `pills orother devices desired to be discharged into each `oackage. The number oi. openings in thegroupsofiopenings and the number ot thefrespective groups may `be modiiied 'in proportion to the diameterl ot the rotary plate or disk 9.` It is proposed to make all of the parts the machine of metal, and the brush body or back 27 carrying the bristles 28 may be detached from the partitions 11 and replaced by similar devices in the event of wear. Also the ratchetteeth 16 may be enlarged or decreased in dimensions in accordance withthe i'rformation of the groups of .openings rIhe improved device will be lound exceptionally convenient for rapidly depositing with certainty a like number of pills or other devices in each package, and will also serve to materially reduce the cost of packaging pills or other devices, with material advantages in the commercial vendition of `the enclosed pills or other devices.

It will be seen that all the parts of the improved machine are comparatively simple and easily associated in operative relation. The fee-d plate or disc 9 is `flat and has the groups of openings formed therein by a boring tool, thereby dispensing with pockets or raised structures around the individual openings and manufacture. The operation or the machine may be effected without requiring theexercise ofmechanical knowledge, and pills or other devices may be automatically `packaged in predetermined numbers without direct manual handling thereof.` 1

What is claimed asnew is: i

1.111 a machine' of the class specified, a rotatable'feed plate arranged in divisions ot groups 'of radially disposed openings, the groups of openings-oii each division being' individually separated by in'iperforate portions of the feed plate and each group having the samenumber of openings therein, each alternate group of openings projecting outwardly a greater distance from the center 'ot the plate than the nextpreceding group, means for automatically disposing devices to be counted in the said groups ot openings, and

means for discharging the contents of each group oit' openings individually or the contents ot a number of thegroups or each di.- vision simultaneously from the machine.

Y 2.` luna machine ofthe class specified, a rotatable feed `pla-te having a plurality ot groups of radially disposed openings arranged in divisions of precisely the same number ot groups throughout the area of the feed plate, each group of openings being made up or' radially arranged lines or' openings with the same number of openings in each line and the samey number of openings in each group, each alternate group of openings projecting outwardly a greater distance from the center of the plate than the next preceding group, means for automatically disposing devices to be Icounted in the said groups of openings, means for simultaneously shifting all of the loaded groups of one division towards a discharging Position, and means for effecting a dis-l charge of the devices disposed in one or more groups of the openings.

3. ln a machine'of the class specified, a rotary feed plate arranged in segmental divisions and each division having a plurality of groups of openings therein with each group distinctlyy separated from the adjacent groups by imperforate portionsof the plate and eachy group also'having the same number of openings comprised therein, the groups of openings alternately projecting outwardly a greater distance Vfrom the central portion of the plate than the preceding groups, means for supplying the groups of openings with devices to 'be counted thereby, means for simultaneously shifting vthe groups of each division towards a discharging position, and means for effecting a discharge of the devices from a single group and also simultaneously from a number of groups of the samedivision.

4t. In a machine of the class speciiecha rotary feed plate arranged in segmental divisions haviug the same number of groups ofradially arranged-openings: in each division and each group provided with thes'a'me number of openings, the openings of each group alsoy having the same number'of alined radially arranged openings therein with the same number of openings in each line, a supply receptacle disposed over the plate and provided with means for causing devices to be deposited in the openings of the groups, means for regularly shifting the plate to bring the Same number of groups ofy openings simultaneously adjacent to a discharge position, and means for effecting a discharge of the devices' from the indivi'- dual grou is of eachl division and also simultaneously from a number of the groups of each division. t

5. In a machine of the class specified, a

vrotary plate arranged in divisions and each division comprising a Vplurality of individual radially disposed groups of openings, each grouphaving thesame number of openings therein and sepa-rated from adjacent groups v by imperforate yportions of the plate, means forcharging the openings of each group with devices vto be counted by the machine and vand means plate,

the groups all'radially projecting differentr distances relatively to the center of the plate and each group of openings also having the same number of openings comprised therein, a partitioned supply receptacle disposed in fixed position over the plate, a fixed bottom 'plate over which the rotary plate has movementy and serving to retain 'the devices deposited in the openings of the groups during movement of the rotary counting plate, for effecting a discharge of the devices in the groups of openings in sequence from the individual groups and also simultaneously from a number of groups of each division.

7. ln a machine ofthe class specied, a standard Ahaving a fixed flat supporting a rotary feed plate closely bearing on the upper side of the supporting plate and arranged in divisions and each division having the saine number of groups of o ienings extending radially thereover, the groups of openings in each division being separated from the adjacent groups by iinperforate portionsof the rotary feed plate and each group also being composed of radially arranged lines of openings with the same number of openings inl each line., the periphery of the feed plate being formed with ratchet teeth so proportioned that the movement of one ratchet tooth will shift the feed plate. a distance to bring the groupsl of openings of one division adjacent to discharging position', a supply receptacle disposed in fixed position overthe rotary feed plate and having partitions forming segmental chambers and means fixed'thereto to engage the devices to be deposited in the groups of openings, means for operating with the ratchet teeth of the feed plate to shift. the latter, and. means for discharging .all of the devices simultaneously from each group and also simultaneously from a number of groups of each division.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses. v

JOHN H. BRUGHEY. Witnesses ALLEN P. WATSON, BERNARD J. RODEN. 

